Philippines

» Prosecution stalls in landmark Maguindanao massacre case.

Despite high levels of press and Internet freedom, provincial journalists worked under constant threat
of reprisal. Two broadcast journalists, Gerardo Ortega and Romeo Olea, were shot and killed for their reporting. Both cases were unsolved by year's end,
underscoring the country's third worst ranking on CPJ's 2011 Impunity Index, which calculates
unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of
a country's population. The vow of President
Benigno S. Aquino III to reverse the trend went unfulfilled as legal proceedings in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, in which 32
media workers were ambushed and slain, stalled
amid numerous defense motions to disqualify witnesses and suppress outside scrutiny.
In another high-profile case, an appeals court denied a dismissal motion filed by two government officials accused of plotting
the 2005 murder of reporter Marlene Garcia-Esperat. Although the decision cleared the way for arrests, the long-running
prosecution has been beset by delays. Press advocates were critical of a new freedom of information bill, which they said would
curtail access to official documents.

Nearly two years since 32 journalists were murdered, the fight for justice has both intensified in rhetoric and bogged down in
technicalities. Without a greater commitment of resources, the litmus test is one the Philippines could fail. Analysis by Shawn W. Crispin

At least 56 journalist murders have gone unsolved over the past decade, making the Philippines
the world's third worst nation in bringing the
perpetrators of media killings to justice, CPJ's
Impunity Index shows.

CPJ's 2011 Impunity index:

1. Iraq
2. Somalia3. Philippines
4. Sri Lanka

5. Colombia
6. Afghanistan
7. Nepal
8. Mexico

9. Russia
10. Pakistan
11. Bangladesh
12. Brazil

13. India

Two radio journalists were killed in direct relation to their reporting in 2011, according to CPJ research.
Half of the 72 Philippine journalists killed since 1992 worked in radio, CPJ data show. The 2011 killings add to the country's
long record of deadly anti-press violence.

Media fatalities in the Philippines over time:

At least 72 journalists have been killed for
their work since 1992, making
the Philippines the second deadliest country in the world for journalists, CPJ research shows. Fatalities include murders, along
with deaths on dangerous assignments.

Deadlinest countries for journalists since 1992:

1. Iraq: 151

2: Philippines: 72

3: Algeria: 60

4: Russia: 53

5: Colombia: 43

6: Pakistan: 41

7: Somalia: 36

8: India: 27

9: Mexico: 27

10: Afghanistan: 24

With its far-flung island geography and underdeveloped landline systems, Internet penetration has
lagged behind several of the country's Asian
neighbors, according to data compiled by the International Telecommunication
Union, or ITU.

Internet penetration over time, according to the ITU:

Although the country has lagged in Internet penetration, its residents have quickly adopted
social media platforms. The Philippines ranks
among the world's top 10 in total Facebook users, according to
social media statistics aggregator Socialbakers.

Top 10 in Facebook use as of November 1, 2011:
1. United States: 156 million
2. Indonesia: 40.8 million
3. India: 38 million
4. United Kingdom: 30.5 million
5. Turkey: 30.4 million
6. Brazil: 30.4 million
7. Mexico: 30.1 million8. Philippines: 26.7 million
9. France: 23.2 million
10. Germany: 21.6 million